Promising colt El Vaquero will be out to further his Group One claims when he steps out again in age group company at Ashburton. The Michael and Matthew Pitman-trained son of Ferrando takes aim at Saturday’s Gr.3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m) off the back of a last-start fifth at Riccarton. El Vaquero was seven weeks between runs there and the stable were far from disappointed with his performance. “In a perfect world, he would have started off over 1200m but there were no races to suit so he ran over…
Year: 2025
Purdon team good to go at Addington tonight
By Michael Guerin This is a public service announcement for punters: Mark Purdon is confident heading to Addington’s mega meeting tonight. Which means when assessing many of the features on the stacked 13-race card you should start with the champion horseman’s drives before looking anywhere else for your money makers. Purdon being confident is not unusual when discussing a horse or two, after all he has trained an army of champions who have been close to unbeatable in a series of Group 1 races. But this week there is extra…
Todd “thrilled” with Marketplace’s progress
By Michael Guerin Trainer Regan Todd is adamant superstar three-year-old pacer Marketplace will be a different horse at Addington tonight than the one who ran unplaced last start. But Todd isn’t so sure that will still be enough to win the Group 1 Flying Stakes (9.37pm), the highlight of a stunning night of harness racing. Marketplace finished out of the money for the first time in last 13 starts when fourth fresh up two weeks ago in a very similar field to what he meets tonight. Todd wasn’t surprised and…
In-form Williams continues great trot down south
By Jonny Turner Tim Williams is letting the good times roll. The reinsman continued his wave of winter and spring success when guiding Ya Rite Darl to the easiest of victories in Thursday’s Aldebaran Zeus Southern Trotting Oaks at Ascot Park. Williams hadn’t driven the talented three-year-old since her fourth placing in the Group 1 Northern Trotting Derby in April. And last week the prospect of filling in for the filly’s regular driver John Dunn wasn’t on his radar. But the opportunity came along as the Stonewall Stud reinsman continues…
Barry Purdon back in the sulky after six year absence
By Michael Guerin One of the legends of New Zealand racing will make a comeback to the track on Friday night to partner a horse 67 years younger than him. Hall of Fame trainer Barry Purdon will have his first race night drive since 2019 when he partners Higher Power in an intermediate trot (Race 4, 7.27pm) at Alexandra Park, the three-year-old trotter set to start an odds-on favourite. Purdon, who trains Higher Power with Scott Phelan, is one of the all-time greats of either equine code in New Zealand,…
Orange overload at Addington
The Orange army will be out in force at Addington on Friday night. The stellar race night features a stacked card highlighted by three Harness Million and three Group races and it coincides with the official launch of the “Backing Blair” campaign just over three weeks before he carries home country hopes at the World Driving Championship. Friday’s launch will feature a life size cutout of Blair Orange in the fanzone at the front of Spectators and the man himself will be there after Race 5 (6.33pm) and Race 8…
Seddon Trotting Country Cup Series to kick off at Kaikoura
“Four” will be the magic number for trotters taking part in the up-coming Seddon Trotting Country Cup series. The series around the top half of the South Island has been confirmed for another year starting on Kaikoura Cup day on Monday, November 3 and culminating in a $30,000 Final at Addington on March 20, 2026. There will be 10 “heats” in all at Kaikoura, Westport, Reefton, Nelson, and Blenheim. The series is all about encouraging trainers to start on the circuit and boosting the profile of trotters and turnovers…
Rose ready to bloom in Toorak
Being third-up is the key for Damask Rose (NZ) (Savabeel) going into Saturday’s Group 1 Toorak Handicap, with Te Akau Racing assistant trainer Ben Gleeson predicting she’s ready to run a big race. Damask Rose’s only other third-up run produced a victory in the inaugural The Kiwi (1500m) at Ellerslie on March 8 and Gleeson said the stable has copied that previous preparation, with the plan for her to peak in the Toorak Handicap, where she will be ridden by Jamie Melham. In her second-up run, Damask Rose finished seventh…
2025 Breeze Ups Postponed One Week
NZB has made the decision to postpone the Breeze Ups for the 2025 Ready to Run Sale due to unfavourable weather conditions with heavy rain and wind predicted through to Tuesday. The Breeze Ups will now take place at Te Rapa on Monday 20 & Tuesday 21 October starting at 10am each day. NZB is committed to conducting the Breeze Ups on a turf surface at Te Rapa, the overwhelming preference from buyers and agents. “In association with Waikato Thoroughbred Racing, we’ve been monitoring the weather forecast closely,” commented NZB’s…
Busy weekend ahead for Pike
A nose was the difference between a $30,000 prize and a mid-week placing for Tony Pike at Avondale on Wednesday, and he hopes to continue being on the right side of the result across several venues this weekend. The Cambridge horseman eyed the NZB Mega Maiden Series bonus for his filly Princess Elsa (NZ) (Frosted), who was resuming as a three-year-old following a string of juvenile placings. She didn’t get all favours in the running but was tough late to get the head bob from Kairos. “She had good two-year-old…